Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-07-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHrNeroN, July 18th, 1857.

" Af4NAA - AtNAAI aNAN ACNAAI ANNlNs
The salutary effects OF the Lessons
taught By the recent exposure Of the
rascalitIes ofBaeon in the Patent Ofiee,
and Harvey in the Treasury, are per-
ceptible in many ways. The heads of
Bureausare morediligent, and vigilent,
as well as exacting regarding the meth
ods OF conducting the public business,
and the clerks appreciate the state OF
affairs by increased activity and
thoroughness in performing their al
lotted tasks. In all the Departments
there Is an ill-concealed feeling Of ap-
prehension, not to say suspense, as to
what day may bring forth, and your
correspondents feels safe in predicting
that the end is not yet-that others
in high places are covering In, object
fear Of au impartial investigation OF
their doines realizing that the result
would be ruinous to them. I have good
reason to believe that a general but
quiet examination of the accounts OF all
discussing officers is being made by
direction Of no less an authority than
the President himself ~ >
Postmaster General Villas was partly
engaged this week In the much needed
work of revising the postal regulations,
which have not been amended since
1877. The Postmaster General also
found time to reply, in the negative to
the letter of the postal clerk, asking
permission to hold convention to dis
cuss the needs of the service, and advis-
ing them that the proper way to secure
those aims and ends would be to make
such suggestions to the Department as
might occur to them in the practical
performance of their duties.
Up to the present this month, Gov
eminent receipts amount to about SILL
100000, and the expenditures, inclusive
of$12, ,000, 900, in pensions, to SIS, $751; :
102, making an enormous excess of dis
bursements over receipts. It is estima-
ted that the receipts for the balance of
the month will be 81 200, 900 day, and
that the expenditures will be fully as
large. The total amount of bonds re-
deemed under the call, which matured
July 1st, is SIS, ,090, ,250, leaving still out
standing of the call ST ,626, ,656, the whole
amount of called bonds outstanding is
$500, ,450. At present the Treasury
finds itself unable to supply the heavy
demand for notes of small denomina-
tions, but orders have been issued to do
so as soon as practicable.
To prove that President Cleveland,
who has probably received more abuse
and adverse criticism from the soldiers
than any of his predecessors, Is really
their best friend, having done better by
them than any other President, it is only
necessary to refer to the records of the
Pension Office. During the first two
years of his term, President Cleveland
has approved 1853 private pension bills,
Gen. Grant In eight years, only approved
485, Hayes in four years, 303, and Gar
field and Arthur but 1856 in the same
time. In addition to this, President
Cleveland has approved three general
pension bills-March 10th, 1885, increas-
Ing to twelve dollars the pensions 70, 1877
widows, miners and dependent relative
of Union soldiers; August 4th, 1885, in
creasing the pensions from $24 to $40,
from $50 to $36, and from 500 to $37. so
to S45 per month. The act Of Jan. 9th,
which has already placed upon the pen
sion rolls s, 455 survivors of the Mexican
War and their widows, and during the
present fiscal year that number will be
Increased at least $4,000. The PEN
sion Ofice records demonstrate beyond
the shade of doubt, the assertion of Re-
publican correspondents to the con-
trary Notwithstanding, that 131 ,180
more certificates of pensions were
issued during the first two years
of Democratic Administration that
during the last two years of Repub-
lican control. And during the same
time the sum distributed to pensioners
by the Democrats, exceeds by SIG, ,617,
026.99 the amount distributed by the
Republicans for the same purpose and
time. 1t is also susceptible of proof
that in the matter of new names added
to the pension list, the Cleveland Ad-
minisrration is Is, ,40S names ahead Of
the last two years of the Republican
reign. Such strong arguments as these
are sufficient to put to shame the Re
publican charge that President Cleve-
land and the Democracy are unfriend-
Iy to the soldiers of the Union.
The disbursing officers of the Treas
ury, were somewhat surprised the other
morning when duly authorized COM
mittee Of expert accountants called un-
cermoniously to count their cash and
see if their books would balance. SINH
lar action will be taken with all dis
bursting officers. Their accounts have
never been overhauled, and it will be a
great wonder if such crookedness in
high places is not uncovered.